Only 10% of non-interventional treatments for back pain relief are effective
A data analysis published in a scientific journal indicates that differences with placebo are marginal for most treatments for chronic and acute lower spine issues. But several experts question the study’s methodology
There are figures that leave no room for doubt, and this is one of them: over 600 million people worldwide suffer from low back pain. And the situation is only going to worsen. It is estimated that by 2030, the prevalence of lower back problems will surpass 800 million people, or 10% of the global population. Treatments aimed at addressing this pain — the leading cause of disability worldwide — are numerous. Typically, they follow a progression from less to more invasive options, with medication being the first step and surgery being the last, more drastic measure. However, a new review published on Tuesday in BMJ Evidence Based Medicine reports that only one in 10 non-interventional treatments is effective in treating back pain. These treatments only “provided small analgesic effects beyond placebo,” the analysis states.
